Initial findings by Arg Times indicate that a financial dispute between several former Afghan politicians and an Afghan businessman was the main cause of verbal altercations and a physical confrontation with ethnic overtones in Tashkent.
In mid-September, leaked images of a private party in Tashkent stirred controversy. Photos obtained by Arg Times show a gathering of several former politicians—now turned businessmen—around tables with alcoholic drinks. Sources say the images are from a 16 September party at the luxurious “Ginaidin” restaurant in Tashkent, hosted by Kamal Nabizada, a well-known Afghan businessman in Central Asia.
However, an associate of Sayed Hafizullah Jalili, a former member of parliament, told Arg Times that the clashes did not take place at that party but rather at a meeting the day before, on 15 September. According to the source, Jalili did not attend the 16 September party, and no alcoholic drinks were present at that event.
The source says the 15 September meeting was held to resolve a years-long financial dispute among several politicians and businessmen. He claims that around four years ago, a man named Zabihullah Hafizi received 20 million USD from Jalili to launch a perfume business in the United Arab Emirates; but according to this source, the money disappeared from the business cycle and was transferred to a third person.
The source refused to provide documentation, and Arg Times has not independently verified the claim.
According to him, Jalili, Zabihullah Hafizi, and a number of Afghan politicians and businessmen were present at the 15 September meeting, and mediation efforts were underway. He says Mirza Mohammad Katawazai, former deputy speaker of parliament, had also traveled from Kabul to Tashkent with Jalili.
The source alleges that Ahmad Shah Ramazan and Asadullah Sharifi, two former members of parliament, supported Hafizi’s position and had “possibly been encouraged to disrupt the meeting.” He claims the two men inflamed the session by raising ethnic issues, derailing the talks and eventually triggering a physical fight.
Asadullah Sharifi has not commented, but Ahmad Shah Ramazan strongly rejected the accusations in a conversation with Arg Times.
It is said that during the meeting, the topic of “Hazara oppression” was raised, which provoked a strong reaction from Jalili, since, according to the source, Jalili has consistently defended Hazaras in every public forum.
The source close to Jalili claims that after most attendees sided with Jalili, Zabihullah Hafizi was forced to leave Uzbekistan immediately.
Associates of Hafizi, however, reject this account and say the Tashkent meeting was a “plot” against him.
Arg Times is still attempting to obtain further documents and accounts.
Initial findings also suggest that the disputed money did not belong to Jalili alone, and that several prominent political figures from the former republic era were involved in the investment as part of a business partnership.
The findings show that the involvement of political figures such as Mohammad Hanif Atmar is clearly visible in this “۲۰-million-dollar” enterprise.
Part three of this report will explore the hidden dimensions of this business deal.
